Both current and former People’s National Movement (PNM) leaders—Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley—yesterday slammed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for saying the controversy over whether or not Dr Eric Willi­ams was this country’s first prime minister was a “non-­issue”.

And political activist Ferdie Ferreira described the claim of United National Congress (UNC) public relations officer Dr Kirk Meighoo that Williams was not Trinidad and Tobago’s first prime minister as “the statement of a man who is irrevocably stupid”.

‘stupid statement’: Political activist Ferdie Ferreira.